Gamini Lokuge: Latest News

MP Gamini Lokuge was appointed as Chair of the Committee on Public Petitions on 21.03.2023 at the Committee meeting held in Parliament.Yadamini Gunawardena proposed the name of Gamini Lokuge whilst Jayantha Katagoda seconded it.Addressing the committee, the newly appointed Chairman said that he will pay special attention to cases where the recommendations given earlier by the Committee on Public Petition were not implemented and take further action for that. The chair who recalled that he had previously served as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Petitions, which plays a very important role in achieving justice for the public, said that he would dedicate himself to that in the future as well.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister Gamini Lokuge said that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation does not intend to increase the prices of fuel once more.Speaking after the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday (28), the Minister said there were requests to position LIOC and Ceypetco prices to one level, however, there were issues with regard to it due to concerns.He also said that the Cabinet of Ministers decided to award allowances of Rs. 5,000/- for two months for the low-income families in Sri Lanka, while measures would be taken to ensure there is no shortage of goods in the local market for the April holidays.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The owners and operators of multiple filling stations across Sri Lanka allege that they are not receiving sufficient stocks of fuel to be sold to the growing number of queues opposite their businesses.“We do not receive the shipments on time. We are compelled to sell fuel based on the delivery of fuel,” said one filling station owner from Colombo.Another filling station owner from Kandy said that though they are sent messages of shipments destined to them, those shipments are never delivered.Similar sentiments were shared by other filling station owners, who are compelled to seek assistance from local authorities to control the crowds as well.Since the 8th of March 2022, Sri Lanka’s new Energy Minister Gamini Lokuge has been making promises on ending the fuel crisis in the country.Yet, there seems to be no immediate end to the fuel shortage in the island nation.At the same time, Sri Lanka’s Ports and Shipping Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena told reporters on Monday (28) that claims that Sri Lanka will run out of fuel by the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, are baseless and false.He said the necessary fuel shipments have been ordered and the delivery will take place soon at the Colombo Port.However, these comments have not calmed the mindsets of many Sri Lankans who have been waiting in line for hours, as well as days, anticipating the arrival of fuel shipments to filling stations.Among these people are businessmen, farmers, day laborers, office workers, and even transport operators.

COLOMBO (News 1st); State Minister Dilum Amunugama said he took oaths on Friday (4) as the country’s Minister of Transport.He was State Minister of State Ministry of Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services and Train Compartments, and Motor Car Industry.It was reported on Thursday (3) night that Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi who was the Transport Minister would be taking oaths as the Minister of Power, replacing Gamini Lokuge, who was appointed as Minister of Energy, replacing Udaya Gammanpila.At the same time, Arundika Fernando was sworn in again as the State Minister of Coconut, Kithul, and Palmyrah Cultivation Promotion and Related Industrial Product Manufacturing and Export Diversification.He resigned from the position after his son was arrested and remanded in connection with the assault of a group of Ragama Medical Faculty students.He was sworn in again, after he was found NOT guilty by a committee that investigated the altercations that took place a month ago between two groups of students at the dormitory premises of the Medical Faculty of the Ragama Medical Faculty a month ago.

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Ministry of Power is taking measures to obtain Solar and Wind power from the private sector.Steps are already underway to select more than 50 investors for this project, Subject Minister Gamini Lokuge said. According to Minister Lokuge, through the project, 1000 MW of Solar and Wind Power is expected to be obtained from the private sector by next year.The CEB engineers were instructed to integrate 45 MW of Solar Power that was already obtained to the National Grid, he said.Minister Gamini Lokuge noted that measures are underway to purchase electricity from the private sector for a period of six months.“The hydropower generation in the country will be limited with the decrease in the rainfall in the months of February to April. Only 61 GigaWatts of Power is left at the Samanala Wewa Power Station,” Minister Lokuge pointed out. Accordingly, Cabinet approval has been sought to hold discussions on extending the agreements with the Private Power Stations by at least another six months, he added. The Ceylon Electricity Board officials and Ministry officials were instructed to hold discussions in this regard.Minister Gamini Lokuge was hopeful that an uninterrupted supply of electricity could be ensured until April.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Association on Sunday (23) warned that there will be four-phase power cuts with effect from Monday (24). However, it is due time to examine the different views of parties involved in the power crisis.What is the current fuel status of power plants?Sapugaskanda has come to a standstill due to lack of oil, and according to the trade unions, the power plant has less than 24 hours to run on fuel.Meanwhile, the Yugadanavi power plant has fuel for only 10 days.What does the Minister of Energy say about this?The Energy Minister, Udaya Gammanpila stated on Sunday (23) that the stocks of fuel have been depleted due to a weakness in the CEB’s calculations.The Minister said that the CEB had requested the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to supply only enough fuel for 10 days.Minister Gammanpila also stated that the stock of fuel was handed over to the CEB last week as agreed during the discussion held with the President’s participation.Moreover, Minister Udaya Gammanpila added that a ship carrying 37,500 metric tons of diesel has arrived near the Sri Lankan sea border.He also said that fuel could be supplied to the CEB if the relevant stock of diesel is released after obtaining dollars.What does the Minister of Power say?Power Minister Gamini Lokuge said that the CEB is currently managing the fuel stocks it has received so far.The Minister of Power and Energy also stated that due to this, there will be no need for a power cut from next Tuesday (25) onwards.However, the Unions state something completely different.Ananda Palitha, the  Media Spokesperson of the United Trade Union Force revealed that the Petroleum Corporation is the sole supplier to supply on demand.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Association on Sunday (23) warned that there will be four-phase power cuts with effect from Monday (24). However, it is due time to examine the different views of parties involved in the power crisis.What is the current fuel status of power plants?Sapugaskanda has come to a standstill due to lack of oil, and according to the trade unions, the power plant has less than 24 hours to run on fuel.Meanwhile, the Yugadanavi power plant has fuel for only 10 days.What does the Minister of Energy say about this?The Energy Minister, Udaya Gammanpila stated on Sunday (23) that the stocks of fuel have been depleted due to a weakness in the CEB’s calculations.The Minister said that the CEB had requested the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to supply only enough fuel for 10 days.Minister Gammanpila also stated that the stock of fuel was handed over to the CEB last week as agreed during the discussion held with the President’s participation.Moreover, Minister Udaya Gammanpila added that a ship carrying 37,500 metric tons of diesel has arrived near the Sri Lankan sea border.He also said that fuel could be supplied to the CEB if the relevant stock of diesel is released after obtaining dollars.What does the Minister of Power say?Power Minister Gamini Lokuge said that the CEB is currently managing the fuel stocks it has received so far.The Minister of Power and Energy also stated that due to this, there will be no need for a power cut from next Tuesday (25) onwards.However, the Unions state something completely different.Ananda Palitha, the  Media Spokesperson of the United Trade Union Force revealed that the Petroleum Corporation is the sole supplier to supply on demand.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Minister of Power said that Lanka IOC has informed the Ceylon Electricity Board that it cannot deliver fuel as it does not have extra fuel stocks.Minister of Power Gamini Lokuge said if any disruptions to the power supply are likely in the future, the schedule of power cuts will be released.“A fuel tanker of the CPC has also reached the Port. We have held discussions with the Government to somehow release the shipment by settling the payment through the State Treasury at least.

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has agreed to provide the required fuel stocks for power generation on Saturday (Jan. 15), Minister of Energy Gamini Lokuge said.“If fuel stocks are provided, there will be no power cuts on Saturday (15) and Sunday (16)”, the Minister noted.Whilst pointing out that the country is currently facing a severe dollar crisis, the Minister noted that the authorities are attempting to ensure an uninterrupted supply of power in order to avoid any inconveniences to the public.“However, I instructed the Ceylon Electricity Board to release the schedule of power cuts to the media,” Minister Lokuge said.According to Minister Lokuge, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has been requested to provide 15,000 tonnes of Fuel.“Close to 1500 tonnes of fuel are required to meet the daily requirement of power generation in the country, meaning 15,000 tonnes would suffice for 10-days,” he added.Minister of Energy Gamini Lokuge was hopeful that by the 22nd of this month, the failed generators at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant could be reactivated, which would add another 300 MW of power to the National Grid.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa emphasizes that solutions for the electricity crisis should be sought without hindering the people’s daily life.In a backdrop where the island nation is facing an imminent power shortage, the Head of State spoke to the heads of the Power and Energy sectors at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (10), said the President’s Media Division in a press release.Officials pointed out that the root cause of the current crisis is the issues prevalent in generating electricity through coal and fossil fuel.Sri Lanka’s coal reserves are sufficient as well as in good maintenance and if the fossil fuel power generating sector is managed well, the country can survive an impending power cut, said the officials.The Subject Ministers noted that all measures have been taken to manage the daily life of the general public during the current situation of the country.Ministers Gamini Lokuge, Udaya Gammanpila, Governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal, State Minister Duminda Dissanayake, Secretary to the President P. B.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has decided to award a Rs. 5,000/- monthly special allowance to all public sector employees from January 2022.This was confirmed by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa.He also said that Public Sector Pensioners will receive a Rs.